Tutoring in W. London schools?

[BedsitBob]

A friend is still holding 2 school offers for Reception in West London - 1 state, 1 private and is seemingly unable to decide between them. (I have told friend to make a decision asap as likely some child will grab the place released)

State school is full of affluent middle class DC, and gets a large number of children into selective independents at 11 (which is friend's aspiration).

Friend was previously keen on the state school but has been put off since local chat has revealed that most of the children at the state school are heavily tutored (hence large number getting into selective private secondaries).

Friend is now thinking that a private school will mean that the school will do all the work and they don't have to worry about tutoring. But doesn't know if the DC are likely to be tutored anyway?

I don't live in London but have seen the cutthroat tales on MN about getting places in competitive private schools.

Do you think it's likely that children attending private primaries are still tutored (in which case friend should take this out of their choosing equation)?

Thanks

Unfortunately, tutoring is rampant in private schools too. The significant increase in competition to get into the competitive entry schools in London has also resulted in a dramatic increase in parental anxiety and turning to tutors (and also the rise of super-tutors).

I'd take the tutoring out of the equation and pick the school which your friend likes the best in terms of ethos, feel and location.

Agree with the poster above. School is so much more than tutoring. Her kid will have to spend 7 years in that primary school, so most important considerations should be where she/he would fit in best and where they would have a chance to do their best.
My DDs are both in a private single sex school. Eldest would not have done well in a bigger class. She definitely benefited from relative "calm" of girl only class. My youngest would probably do OK in a mixed school, but then again, smaller class and better facilities win out.
And, as to tutoring - at our school there are people who do and those who don't. But in later years the school is definitely all about prepping the girl for the exams. State schools don't have the same need to do it - hence parents feeling the pressure to tutor more, I would think.

Agree. Tell your friend to choose the school she and her dc like the best, and leave the tutoring out of the equation.

There is probably as much hype as reality about the competition in W/SW London, but some of it is true. It isn't true at my dds' school still (only 2/30 in Y5 being tutored, eg) but in grammar school areas tutoring is almost the norm for both state and private primaries, apparently.

I think tutoring is rampant among families wanting places at competitive secondary schools - be they in London, Paris, New York...

I have known girls at Bute House etc tutored for years for St Pauls etc. believe me if a child is reasonably clever state or private doesn't make a difference.

Children in private primaries are definitely being tutored in some cases as some parents are obsessed with DCs getting into particular schools which may or not be the right one for them. At DC's state school, which sounds v similar to the school your friend is looking at, the children are tutored primarily in exam technique, timing etc as they do absolutely no preparation in school for this. They also don't really cover verbal and non verbal reasoning etc. The overall curriculum isn't that different from the private schools around here.

believe me if a child is reasonably clever state or private doesn't make a difference. I so heartily second that. There are reasons to send a child private but getting in to a decent private secondary isn't one of them - a bright kid with some exam technique (don't need a tutor for that even imho) will have no problem and I speak from experience.

I think it's a huge advantage not to be in a private school in the lead up to 7+ or 11+, the hysteria sounds pretty overwhelming both for parents and children.

Saganoren
"a bright kid with some exam technique (don't need a tutor for that even imho) will have no problem and I speak from experience."

Ditto on the experience.

The boys whose parents showed up for the Colet Court/St Paul's exam and were white faced, close to tears as the months/years of tuition was put to the test over a couple of hours (where they couldn't stand over their boy's shoulder) are almost certainly the ones that didn't get in.

, the hysteria sounds pretty overwhelming both for parents and children.

Or you could just ignore it.

I was stunned that any children at BabyBearleigh's excellent Surrey prep school were felt to need being tutored, but anecdotally many were. One family was rumoured to have paid extra so they would not be just before another family from the same school. I don't know why they didn't just trust the school.

Tutoring is rife at our prep school. Either parents or private tutors. Utterly depressing. Teachers no longer teach, they recap. This is why its hard on the ones that are not tutored. They can't spot a clever child. I would avoid it. Also as the day is so long they are exhausted and can not pursue play time or other non academic interests.